The National Commission for the Coordination and Control of Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons, on Tuesday, raised concern over the proliferation and infiltration of arms and ammunition in Africa.
The agency said the development had fuelled conflicts in various parts of the continent.
The acting Director-General of NATCOM, Adejare Adegbenro, in a statement issued in Abuja, lamented that African countries collectively imported approximately $1.9bn worth of arms and ammunition in 2019.
Adegbenro recommended sanctions on arms producers to restrict their ability to fuel conflicts and reduce the occurrence of violence and instability
He said while frantic efforts had been made for peaceful and prosperous Africa, the infiltration of arms from external sources remained a challenge.
“The arms trade in Africa has far-reaching repercussions, with various regions plagued by conflicts occasioned by the easy access to weapons. From insurgencies and civil wars to insurgency, banditry and violent crimes, the proliferation of arms has dwarfed the continent’s progress. Infiltration of arms and ammunition from foreign producers heightens these issues, as they often end up in the hands of non-state actors and criminals, perpetuating instability and undermining development efforts.
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